The Trump administration announced last Monday that the Department of Education (ED) canceled roughly $900 million in contracts overseen by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), which maintains a massive database of education statistics and contracts with scientists to compile and make data public about schools each year. One of these terminated contracts funds the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS) survey, which is a comprehensive, nationally representative survey that provides invaluable data on how students finance their education, their demographics, their academic experiences, and ultimately, their post-college employment and other outcomes.
The loss of this data will have profound implications for decisionmaking at all levels—whether by students and families, education leaders, and policymakers. For policymakers, NPSAS data informs crucial decisions at both the federal and state levels, including:
- Understanding the impact of programs like Pell Grants and loan programs. Without NPSAS data, policymakers will struggle to assess the effectiveness of these programs, identify unmet needs, and ensure equitable access to higher education for students from all socioeconomic backgrounds.
- Calculating the true cost of college, tracking how students and families pay for it, and developing effective policies to make institutions more affordable. NPSAS provides detailed information on tuition costs, living expenses, and sources of funding, allowing policymakers to target interventions and support where they can help the most students.
- Holding institutions accountable for student outcomes. It tracks graduation rates, loan repayment rates, and other key metrics, providing insights into institutional effectiveness, quality, and areas for improvement. Without this data, state policymakers will find it much harder to assess the return on investment of higher education and ensure that students are receiving a quality education.
Beyond policy implications, the loss of NPSAS data will severely impact all data users’ understanding of education and workforce pathways. This data is critical to many state data systems, which leaders rely on to inform policy and create tools that students and parents use for decisionmaking in the following ways:
- Understanding student success. When incorporated with data from statewide longitudinal data systems (SLDSs) or other state data systems, NPSAS data can be used to examine the factors that contribute to student success, including academic preparation, financial resources, and institutional support. This information is crucial for developing effective support programs to improve student outcomes.
- Tracking workforce outcomes. State leaders use NPSAS alongside other state data to analyze graduates’ employment status, earnings, and career paths, providing insights into the relationship between education and the workforce. This information is critical for aligning educational programs with labor market needs, providing students with insights about the quality and viability of different career pathways, and ensuring that graduates are prepared for success.
Losing NPSAS data will undermine evidence-based policymaking, weaken accountability measures, and limit analysis of student success and workforce pathways. From helping students choose the right educational path to informing policies that ensure equity and success in higher education, this data is indispensable. Canceling NPSAS represents a critical loss for students, families, institutions, and policymakers alike, jeopardizing informed decisionmaking and hindering progress toward a more equitable and effective higher education system for all.
